Pottltry-decapitator



F. S. RECE.

POULTRY DECAPITATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. 1918- Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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F. S. RECE.

POULTRY DECAPITATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 191B.

1 ,3 1 0,294. Patented July 15,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON, n. C.

UNITED STATES P ENT FFIQE.

FRANK s. anon, on DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO EDWARD H.rrnnson, on DALLAS, TEXAS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Application filed September 25, 1918. Serial No. 255,646.

To all whom it concern Be it known that I, FRANK S. RECE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county ofDallas and State of Texas, have'invented certain new and. usefulImprovements in Poultry-Decapitators, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to poultry decapitators and has as one ofitsobjectsto provide a device for this purpose by the use of which fowlsmay be readily and quickly beheaded in a humane manner.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the stock of thedecapitator that,

without causing the fowl any pain, its neck, when placed in position forthe operation of the blade member of the device, will be held againstdisplacement. Incidentally the invention contemplates so constructingthe stock of the device that the neck of the fowl may be so positionedthat when the blade member of the device is actuated to behead the fowl,the neck will be severed close to the head so that where a number of thefowls are to be decapitated for the market, their necks will appear ofeven length and will be evenly cut and there will be a minimum waste ofthe fowl as a result of its decapitation. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed so constructed that it will be inexpensive to manufacture andmay in fact be produced almost wholly of stamped sheet metal.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and mount the blademember of the device that the same may be readily disconnected from thestock of the device for the purpose of sharpening the cutting edge.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a poultrydecapitator of such construction that it may be readily secured to nysuitable block or post or even to the in retracted position and indotted lines in advanced position;

Fig. 5 is a group perspective view illustrating the several partscomprising the decapitator disassembled;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the stock of thedecapitator is formed.

Generally speaking the decapitator embodies a stock and a blade member,the stock being adapted to be attached to any suitable support and beingprovided with a neck receiving opening, and the blade member beingmounted within the stock for sliding movement in a direction to causeits cutting edge to pass the said opening.

The stock, as also the blade member, is preferably formedfrom a sheetmetal blank and said stock is indicated in general in the drawings bythe numeral 1 and comprises fiat side members 2 which occupy parallelplanes and are slightly spaced apart so as to movably receive betweenthemthe blade member of the device as will be presently fully explained.The lower end portion of each of the side members 2 of the stock is bentlaterally outwardly to provide an attaching base member 3 and thesemembers are formed with openings 4 for the passage of screws or othersecuring elements 5 whereby the base of the stock may be secured to awooden or other suitable block 6 or to a post or even to the side of ahouse, the device, as before stated, being adapted for use either in avertical position or in a horizontal position. The rear edge portion ofeach of the spaced members 2 of the stock is bent laterally outwardly atright angles to the plane of the said member to provide a reinforcingwing or flange 7 and the lower end portions of these flanges or wingsare bent rearwardly at right angles as indicated by the numeral 8 so asto supplement the base portions 3 in firmly bracing the stock upon itssupporting block 6. The entire stock is formed from a single integralsheet metal blank and this blank is folded midway between its ends informing the side members 2 of the stock so that as a result the saidside membersare united at their upper ends by a connecting portion orloop 9, which for a purpose to be presently explained is formed with aslot 10 located immediately above the space between the said spacedmembers 2. Near their upper ends, the sidemembers 2 are bent outwardlyas indicated by the numeral 11, substantially at right angles to theirplanes and thence upwardly preferably in substantially converging planesto form the sides 12 of an open or looped head 13 which is designed tohouse the spring provided for retracting the blade member as will bepresently ex plained. In providing the portions 11, shoulders 14 areformed located at opposite sides of the space between the members 2 asclearly shown in Fig. at of the drawings.

The side members 2 of the stock 1 are formed with oppositely locatedneck receiving openings indicated in general by the numeral 15 and eachof these openings is of L shape as shown, being formed with a mouth orbranch 16 which opens through the forward edge of the respective sidemember 2 and a second branch or body 17 which extends downwardly atright angles from the. inner end of the branch 16, the bottom walls ofthe branches 17 being preferably concave as indicated by the numeral 18so as to more or less snugly engage the neck of the fowl to bedecapitated. The body of the opening in each side member 2 extendsparallel to the forward edge of the, said side member and the materialof the side member between its said forward edge and the opening ispreferably slightly bent outwardly into lips 19, so as to providebetween the side members a guide for the cutting blade member of thedevice, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4: and 5 of the drawings. Thebranches l6 and 17 of the opening 15 are preferably of a width justsufficient to more or less snugly accommodate the neck of a fowlofordinary size and are consequently of a width less than suflicient topermit the passage or withdrawal through the opening of the head, of thefowl. Thus when the neck of a fowl is introduced into the openingthrough its mouth 16 and is then moved downwardly into the body 17 untilit rests in the concavity of the wall 18, the fowl may be drawn to oneside until its head engages against one or the other of the side membersof the stock and then when the blade member is actuated it will severtheneck close to the head. Of course, due to the angular disposition ofthe branches 16 and 17 of the neck receiving opening, there is littlelikelihood of the movements of a fowl causing disengagement of its neckfrom the body 17 after the neck has once been disposed within the branchand there is consequently little likelihood of mutilation being causedat the time of operation of the blade member.

The blade member is, as before stated, preferably formed of sheet metaland the same, indicated in general by the numeral 20, includes a shank21 which has its upper portion slidably fitted through the slot 10 andwhich is broadened at its lower end to provide the blade proper,indicated by the numeral 22. The cutting edge of the blade is indicatedby the numeral 23 and the same extends medial; line of the shank 21. Theshank and blade proper occupy a common plane and the lower portion ofthe shank and the said blade proper fit slidably between the opposingfaces of the side members 2 of the stock, the blade being so positionedthat its cutting edge 23 will be inclined upwardly and in the directionof the rear side of the stock so that its forward end will constituteits advancing end and will first pass across the neck receiving opening.Thus when the blade member is moved downwardly, it will first moveacross the branch 16 and effectually close this branch to prevent anydisengagement of the neck of the fowl from the neck receiving opening,and toward the latter part of the movement of the blade member thecutting edge of the blade will pass downwardly beside the branch 17 andsever the neck of the fowl with a shearing cut. In order to furtherguide the shank of the blade member and in order to prevent spreading oftheside members 2 of the stock 1, a guide member such as clearly shownin Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings and indicated in general by the numeral24:, is preferably provided. This member comprises a connecting portion25 and side portions 26 which latter are fitted through slots 27 formedin the sides 2 of the stock of the device, the said sides 26. beingformed with openings 28 through which. is passed a pin 29. which restsagainst the outer face of one side member 2 while the connecting portion25 of the member 24: rests against the outer face of the other member 2.Thus, as stated, the members 2 are held: against separation or spreadingand at the same time, inasmuch as the shank of the blade member worksbetween the sides 26 of the said member 24 as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, the said shank is effectually guided in its sliding movement.It is preferable that the shank 21 be reduced in width from its juncturewith the blade proper 22 to a point normally located within the head 13of the stock and in thus reducing the shank, a shoulder diagonally ofthe longitudinal.

30 is formed at the upper end of its reduced portion against whichbearsthe upper end: of a coiled compression spring. 31 which is fittedupon the reduced portion of the shank and which at its lower end bearsupon the shoulders 14 at the bottom of the head 13. This spring servesto normally hold the blade member retracted and: to automaticallyretract the same after it has been actuated and released, and the upwardmovement of the blade member is limited by the engagement of theupperedge of the blade 22 with the side portions 26 of'the member 24 asclearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4:- of the drawin s. The shank of the blademember may be provided with any desired form of handle against whichpressure may be exerted and which handle, however, is to be detachablyconnected with the shank'so that the blade member may be bodily removedor disconnected from the stock of the device Whenever it is desired tosharpen the cutting edge 23. While various types of handles may beprovided for the purpose stated, one well suited for the purpose isillustrated in the drawings and is formed from a strip of sheet metalbent to provide a shank 32 and a head 83 extending at right angles tothe plane of the shank and against which head pressure may be exertedfor the purpose of actuating the blade member. At its lower end, theshank is reduced to provide a tongue 34: which is bent at right anglesto the shank and which is fitted through a slot 35 formed in the upperend portion of the shank 21 of the blade member, a collar or sleeve36being slidably fitted on the shanks 21 and 32 and movableto position toembrace both shanks as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings,whereby to prevent disengagement of the tongue 34 from the slot 35. Ofcourse, this collar or sleeve may be slid upwardly upon the shank untilit clears the upper end of the shank 21 whereupon the handle may bereadily disconnected from the shank of the blade member.

As stated, various types of handles may be provided and also, in lieu ofthe member 24, bolts or the like may be detachably fitted through thespaced side members 2 of the stock. I

In the use of the device, the neck of the fowl to be decapitated isintroduced into the lower or inner end of the branch 17 of the opening15 and when properly positioned, downward pressure is exerted againstthe. head 33 of the handle member thus forcing the blade 22 toward theblock 6 and severing the neck of the fowl. The outwardly bent portions19 of the side members of the stock serve to effectually guide the bladein such movement inasmuch as the advancing or forward end of the bladeenters between these portions immediately after passing across thebranch 16 of the opening 15. \Vhen it is desired to sharpen the \cuttingedge of the blade, the blade member may be bodily removed from the stockby removing the pin 29 and the member 24, disconnecting the handle forthe.

by avoiding unnecessary expenditure of force in the actuation of thesaid cutting member.

It will be evident from the foregoing de scription of the invention thatthe same will prove highly desirable for domestic use as it can besuccessfully employed by women and others who are not skilful enough toperform the operation with an ax or a hatchet, or who are aversethereto, and affords to all a more acceptable method than the wringingof the fowls neck.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, a stock formed of a single blankof sheet metal bent at its midlength into a looped head and below thesame into spaced, flat side members provided along their rear edges withrightangular wings, the lower ends of said members and wings being bentoutward in a single horizontal plane to produce a supporting base, saidside stock having a transverse opening; combined with an elementslidable vertically within said stock and having a member at its lowerend movable across said opening.

2. In a device of the class described, a stock formed of a single blankof sheet metal bent at its midlength into a looped head and below thesame into spaced, flat side members provided along their lower ends withoutturned portions forming a supporting base, said side members havingregistering openings; combined with an element including a member whichin its movement coacts with said openings, a shank rising from themember within the stock and through and above its head, and a handle atthe upper end of said shank, and means located within said head fornormally raising said element.

3. In a decapitator, a stock provided with a neck receiving opening of Lshape having its mouth extending inwardly from one edge thereof and itsbody extending downward from the inner end of the mouth andlongitudinally of the stock, and a blade member guided longitudinally ofthe stock and having a cutting edge disposed to cross the body of theopening, the said cutting edge being inclined in the direction of thatedge of the stock opposite the edge through Which said mouth opens.

4 In a decapitator, a stock including flat, spaced side portionsprovided with alined L-shaped openings whose bodies are upright andwhose mouths open through one edge of said side portions, the lips ofthe latter beneath the mouths of the openings being spread apartslightly, and a blade guided for vertical movement between said sideportions and of a length to extend across the bodies of said openings,one end of the blade adapted to move between said lips.

5. In a decapitator, a stock having spaced side members and an openhead, the side members having a neck receiving opening, a blade memberslidably mounted between the side members and having a shank extendingslidably through the head, a spring within the head normally holding theblade member elevated, the j uncture the shank with the blade properproviding a shoulder, and means for guiding the shank including spacedelements connecting said side members of the stock and engageable by theshoulder to limit the rise 01 the blade memher under the influence oithe spring.

6. In a decapitator, a stock having spaced side members provided withoppositely located neck receiving openings extending inwardly from oneedge thereof, and a'blade slidable vertically between the said membersand across the body of said opening, the blade having its cutting edgeinclined and therefore having one end located in advance of the other,and said members below the mouth of the opening being relatively spreadout of the path of the advanced end of the cutting edge.

7. In a decapitator, a stock provided at its upper end with an open headand comprising in its lower portion spaced side members, the bottom ofthe interior of the head providing a shoulder at the upper ends of thesaid side members, the said side members having a neck receivingopening, a blade member slidably movable between the side members andthrough the head, and a spring upon the shank of the blade memberresting at its lower end upon the shoulder and at its upper end engagingan abutment portion of the shank.

8. In a decapi-tator, a stock comprising spaced side members, a guidemeans including spaced elements extending through the side members, anda blade having a shank slidably fitted between the side members of thestock and guided by the said elements of the guiding means, the spacedside members of the stock having a neck receiving opening across whichthe cutting edge of the blade is to move.

9. In a decapitator a stock having spaced side members and an open headproviding a connection between the upper ends of the side members, theside members having a neck receiving opening, the juncture of the sidemembers with the head providing a shoulder within the head, a blademember slidably mounted between the side members and having a shankextending slidably through the head, the shank of the blade member beingprovided with a shoulder lying within the head, and a spring upon theshank bearing at one end against the shoulder upon the shank and at itsother end against the shoulder within the head and normally holding theblade member retracted.

10. In a decapitator, a stock having spaced side members and an openhead providing a connection between the. upper ends of the side members,the side members having a neck receiving opening, the juncture of theside members with the head providing a shoulder withinthe head, a blademember slidably mounted between the side members and having a shankextending slidably through the head, the shank of the blade memberbeingprovided' with. a shoulder lying within the head, a spring upon theshank bearing at one end against the shoulder upon the shank and at itsother end against the shoulder within the head and normally holding theblade member retracted, the juncture of the shank of the blade memberwith the blade proper providing a shoulder, and means for guiding theshank including spaced elements fitted through the said side members ofthe stock and engageable by the last mentioned shoulder to limit themove- .ment of the blade member under the infiuence of the spring.

11. In a decapitator, a stock having spaced side members and an openhead providing a connection between the upper ends of the side members,the side members having a neck receiving opening, the juncture of theside members with the head providing a shoulder within the head, a blademember slidably mounted between the side members and having a shankextending slidably through the head, the shank of the blade member beingprovided with a shoulder lying within the head, a spring coiled upon theshank within the head and expanding be tween said shoulders to normallyhold the blade member elevated, means for limiting the rise of saidmember, and a detachable handle at its upper end.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' FRANK S. RECE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Batents, Washington, I), G.

